MD) MMM MAHA moves against "Assault Weapons"

[gun-fucious]

Delegate Don Dwyer, a member of the House Judicial Committee and strong defender of the 2nd Amendment has asked for your help in countering the propaganda from Leah Barrett of Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse. His e-mail is below - the email he received is the following message

Fellow Pro- 2nd Amendment supporters, This e-mail was just sent to every member of the Jud committee. I would urge you to fire back with what ever information you have to combat this obvious propaganda. This is what we have to deal with. If you don’t have factual data don’t worry about it. They continually make up facts so we should use their tactics. Its obvious that their approach is successful.

Constitutionally yours,

Delegate- Don Dwyer, Jr.

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MAHA PRESS RELEASE
March 18th, 2003

Marylanders Support Assault Weapons Ban

A statewide survey of Maryland voters shows clear support for a ban on military-style assault weapons. Nearly two-thirds of Maryland voters (64%) say they favor a ban on the future sales of military-style assault weapons, while 33% oppose a future ban. The remaining 3% gave no answer.

The General Assembly is considering a ban on such weapons (SB 494 and HB 844). A state ban is especially important since the federal assault weapons ban, passed in 1994, is due to expire in September 2004 unless reauthorized by Congress and the Bush Administration. The General Assembly bill would ban the sale of copycat assault weapons such as the Bushmaster used in the Washington area sniper murders last autumn. The Bushmaster is a close copy of the M-16 military assault rifle.

The survey demonstrated broad support for an assault weapons ban among the Maryland electorate with majorities in favor in every demographic sub-group in the survey, including Republicans (52%), Eastern Shoremen (58%), and Western Maryland voters (53%). Men (57%) give the proposal majority support, but women (71%) are more enthusiastic. Baltimore City voters (79%), African-Americans (77%), and Democrats (73%) are the biggest supporters of a ban on future sales of military-style assault weapons.

Leah Barret, Executive Director of Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse, commented: "The people of Maryland do not want these devastating weapons on our streets. I hope that our lawmakers in Annapolis are listening and will pass this sensible bill. When over 600 Marylanders continue to die each year from gun violence, more must be done to stem this deadly tide."


Contact:
Leah Barrett, Executive Director
Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse
Tel: 410 889 1447; Fax: 410 889 1480

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You need to contact the Maryland House Judicial Comittee now and let them know your thoughts (be polite) !

[email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

 

[Blackhawk]

Those people just won't learn!

 

[Nightfall]

When over 600 Marylanders continue to die each year from gun violence, more must be done to stem this deadly tide.

Outside of the sniper shootings, how many people died in that area from ‘assault weapons', hmm? 1, maybe 2? Yea, sounds like a great reason to strip people of their rights, and to further defile the Constitution. Once again, there is a misconception that a majority opinion makes something okay. ‘We can ignore the 2nd Amendment and the intents of our forefathers, so long as we make it look like most people say it's okay.'

Somebody get these folks a dictionary and show them the words 'inalienable' and 'rights'. One day, these people are going to be in for a very rude awakening.

 

[gun-fucious]

A statewide survey of Maryland voters

i think i could run a State wide survey that would find out that 90 percent of Marylanders surveyed think that Mary Poppins was an ET

 

[tyme]

Thank you for contacting my office about gun control legislation. I stand firmly by the second amendment and I concur with your perspective on this issue.

You may rest assured that I oppose all legislation that is unconstitutional.

Constitutionally yours,
Delegate Don Dwyer, Jr.
DD/jf

How'd this guy get elected in the political circus that is Maryland?
(Note: I didn't say "second amendment" anywhere in my email)

 

[Calanctus]

Are there any plans to legally attack MD's assault weapons ban the same way Gorsky is attacking California's? They seem very similar. Can this be challenged under the "necessary for militia use" phrase in USA vs. Miller ? There are times the firearm laws of MD make my head explode...

 

[spacemanspiff]

i ended communication with what is now a former friend in MD because of her politics involving gun control. one of my last communicades with her revealed the fallacy of the assault weapon ban which i think she couldnt get her mind around. she fell back on 'no useful need' and said she didnt want to talk any more about 'guns' with me.

since then, i havent spoken to her.

 

[gun-fucious]

here is the outline of the testimony i presented in Annapolis:

HB 844 Testimony
3-15-03

According to the Bill of Rights, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The laws of Montgomery County Maryland also provide for the Volunteer Militia to be equipped with Same-Arms.
I believe that HB 844 would infringe a Maryland citizen's right to keep and bear arms. It would also appear to be a violation of the Maryland Constitutional concept of "effectual encouragement of the Volunteer Militia "


Lets start out by examining some of the terms and myths of
"Assault Weapons"

Assault Rifles
Assault is a verb. These machines assault no one. Our Police have AR15s in their weapons inventory. I do not believe our Police "assault" anyone.
The design of these machines dates back to before World War I. Are the Citizens of Maryland only to be entrusted with Civil War Era rifle designs? These rifle designs are more aptly called
"Homeland Defense Rifles"

A Pistol Grip
According to the Brady organization this plastic handle allows the rifle to spray bullets from the hip. The rifles under consideration are not machine guns. They fire one time for every pull of the trigger. The idea that they are Hollywood machine guns is far from accurate. Adding a pistol grip is a cosmetic change.

Here is a Ruger Mini 14 with a wooden stock, below it is a picture of a Mini 14 with a pistol grip. Functionally the rifles have identical performance.


Because the bottom one has a pistol grip, HB 844 would ban it for future purchase based only on a prejudice towards its appearance.

Sporting Purposes
How many times have you heard that "Assault Rifles" are only used to kill people? There are National target shooting matches at Camp Perry that are won by AR15s. The US Civilian Marksmanship Program has an AR15 in its catalog. Over a million AR15s have been sold in the United States since 1994, and they are seldom used in any crimes.

Marylanders use Semi auto, Magazine fed rifles for deer hunting. Many a wild pig, deer, elk or bear have been hunted with these rifles. The magazine fed Semi Auto rifle maybe the only practical solution for eliminating the Nutria Rat population that is decimating the Bay's environment.


The Militia
According to:

UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle A - General Military Law
PART I - ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS
CHAPTER 13 - THE MILITIA


§ 311. Militia: composition and classes

(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.

(b) The classes of the militia are --

(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia;

and

(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.

Most of Maryland's male citizens are in the unorganized Militia.



According to the Maryland Constitution:

MILITIA AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
SECTION 1. The General Assembly shall make, from time to time, such provisions for organizing, equipping and disciplining the Militia, as the exigency may require,and pass such Laws to promote Volunteer Militia organizations as may afford them effectual encouragement.

How does banning the most effective class of Militia arms afford effectual encouragement?


In Montgomery County, there is a statute in the code for equipping Civilian defense personnel with Same Arms.

Sec. 2-15. Same-Arms and ammunition; civilian defense personnel; regulations, etc.


The county executive may provide and furnish arms and ammunition to the citizens of the County or to the militia of the state

(Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 2-20; 1943, ch. 75, § 2; 1970 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 2; 1984 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 4; 1984 L.M.C., ch. 27, §5.)

Just what Same-Arm might the county executive provide?
Most likely the Same-Arm that the National Guard is equipped with,
an AR15




I think it is prudent in these times of imminent War, for the civilians of Maryland to be able to possess Homeland Defense Rifles. Many military families buy an AR15 for their sons and daughters to learn life saving Marksmanship skills. The Military invests a mere thousand rounds of Ammunition per soldier per year. Most Carbine rifle classes require the student to bring this much ammo for one weekend of shooting. Civilian's trained in the proper, safe usage of these tools will make America a safer place.

Save the Homeland Defense Rifles.






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"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."

Richard Henry Lee, Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, initiator of the Declaration of Independence

 

[moa]

Gun-Fucious, thanks for the reminder.

Correspondence sent to all 20 members of the MD. House Judiciary Committee. I also reminded them that under MD. Dept. Of Natural Resoures regulations, most of the guns banned by HB844 are suitable for hunting in Maryland. They have sufficient muzzle velocity.

Also, in case you did not know, I think we have a solid ally on the MD. Senate Judiciary Committee in Alex Mooney.

His response to my e-mail was amazing. I got a response back in the US Mail the next day. Of course it helps that I contributed to his 2002 campaign fund, and I am not even in his District.

 

[moa]

Excuse me, the MD. DNR hunting reg is based on muzzle energy not velocity.

 

[tyme]

Don Dwyer has some documents about the MD AG's attempted campaign against the death penalty. This is a pretty divisive topic, so I'll just link to the stuff rather than describe it and risk starting a debate. Apparently he thinks everyone who's pro-RKBA is pro-death penalty.

For any Marylanders or others who are interested in this:

http://www.sockpuppet.org/~tyme/md/
[email protected]